Closure plug



July 20,1965 f H. P. SENOFF 3,195,762

cLosURE PLUG Filed may 16, 1962 United States Patent O 3,95,'762 QLGS 'RE PLUG Herbert P. Sanofi, 695 Parkway Ave., Trenton, NJ. Fitted May 16, 1962, Ser. No. 195,238 1 Elaim. (l. 22h- 39) This invention relates to closure plugs for containers and methods for making the same, and is more particularly concerned with the combinations Aof plug bodies with means for actuating the plugs and methods for forming such combinations.

Where threaded closure plugs, particularly those principally designed for use in the closing of openings in large containers, are made of relatively lightweight metal, the problem of providing them with the proper actuating means becomes acute. The forces exerted in applying and tightening such closure plugs are often considerably greater than necessary for effective closing. Thus, unless the plugs are properly constructed, the application of excessive forces, instead of providing a tight closure can result in distortion of lthe plug and consequent leakage.

Accordingly, in providing wrenching means, adequate strength must be provided in the means itself, the means must be engaged with the plug in a manner of comparable strength and, at the same time, protection oi the plug against distortion must be taken into consideration. Nevertheless, the Whole construction must provide a simple, economical, effective closure in order to make it commercially attractive. All these criteria of an effective closure plug are met by the inst-ant invent-ion.

it is accordingly an object of this invention to provide lightweight closure plugs with effective wrench-engaging means.

Another object is to provide for a strong engagement between the wrench-engaging means and the plug.

Still another object is to provide for such engagement in a manner to protect the plug against distortion when actuated.

Further objects are to provide methods for forming the plug inserts carrying the wrench-engaging means and for assembling such inserts with the plug body in simple economical manner. Y

Still further objects will in part be obvious and in part he pointed out as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, proceeds.

lin that drawing:

FGURE l is .a fragmentary plan view of a plug, in accordance with the invention, embodying the FIGURE 3 insert, and showing surrounding portions of a container.

FiGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 2 2 on FGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view or the insert in finished form, ready to be assembled with the plug body.

FlGURE 4 is an exploded elevational view of the insert and the plug body.

FGURE 5 is an elevational View, partly broken away of the insert and plug body with one form of wrench in place.

FlGURES 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views as seen from the planes 6-6 and 7 7 on FGURE 4.

Considering rst the body of the plug, the same has a base or bottom l, an upstanding threaded side Wall 2 therearound, and a depressed gasket seat 3, the head of the threads carrying the gasket 4. Above that gasket seat, forming one border thereof, is the head 5. The head 5 extends outwardly at the upper border of the gasket seat 3.

The threading of the side wall of this plug is shown as being of the rolled type. Such threading `is provided by the roller swaging of thin sheet metal, saving considerable metal by enabling plugs to be formed of lighter stock than is required where the threads are cut into the metal. By the same token, the lighter material, though fully lgj'b Patented July 2Q, l

ice

effective for proper closing, is more easily distorted in response to excessive torque than are the so-called cut thread plugs. It is hence desirable that the means employed for actuating the plug does not impart its torque to any particular section of the threads but that, instead, the torque is distributed all over the plug. it is further and lat least equally desirable that no operative distorting action be transmitted to t-he gasket scat or head. The actuating member of this invention and the manner of applying the same mee-t these requirements.

The actuating member 44 is preferably fabricated by cutting and forming from iiat `sheet metal, preferably steel. The body it? thereof has a center portion 1l having securing portions l2. Depressions 14 are formed in the stock of the portions 12 adjacent the outer edge of that stock. These, being caused by a pressing operation, produce projections i5 on the bottom side of the body llt), as seen in FIGURE 4. The projections or pimples l5 serve to localize the welding current employed in securing the actuating member in place in thel plug body. Their position, immediately adjacent the protuberances titl and 62, is of importance, as will appear hereinafter.

The actuating member 44 includes the base 5S and the pair of upwardly directed hollow protuberances d Iand o2. The base 53 has central longitudinal edges dd and o6 and curved end edges 63 and 7i). The protuber-ances titl .and n2 are fabricated by upwardly deforming the material of the base to provide substantially right angle bends 72 and '74, the generally semicylindrical vertical Wall portions '76 and 73, the rounded bends 8@ and d2, and the partial domes S4 and 8d.

The deformation and the stressed condition of the material forming the protuberances @El and 62 yand the rounded non-acute metal formation at the bends Si? and S2 produce great strength and resistance to distortion particularly in relation to the thickness and composition of the material of which the secondary plug element is made. Furthermore, the acuteness of the substantially right angle f ends '72 and 71E produce a at shape thereat in the vertical Wall portions 'id and 78 which alfords maximum area engagement with the wrench di thereby distributing the torque and avoiding deformation of the protuberances dil and 52,.

The base SS is provided with an integral loop dS produced by cutting a pair of spaced and parallel slits S9 and forcing the intervening strip of metal upward into an upwardly convex configuration. Through the loop 3S may be passed a wire or string from a label tag or the like for indicating contents, destination, et cetera.

In FIGURE 3 the actuating member is shown in its completely formed state, ready for application to the plug body.

There are important features to be noted here. They can best be seen by reference to FIGURE l, Where the insert is shown seated within the hollow of the plug. In the trst place it will be seen that the actuating member, as formed from the body itl, extends substantially the Whole way across the interior of the plug body. Next the Welding portions It@ are spaced widely apart with respect to the bottom t of the plug and are located as close toward the periphery of the bottom as can be reasonably accomplished. Turning forces applied to the actuating member land transmitted through the welded joints are distributed widely over the bottom of the plug and through the body of the plug. Hence distortion of the plug, through actua- 'tion of the same, is kept at a minimum.

From FiGURES l and 3 it is seen that a strong protuberance construction is presented for the wrench-engaging ends of the actuating member. in the forming of these ends the metal employed has been integrally deformed with the grain structure thereof strengthened by the drawing orientation. Further, the semicylindrical Vwith the Vother electrode of the Welding system.

wall portions and 7S being substantially Vnormal with respect to the upper surface of the base 5S otter a maximum of wrenching purchase and engagement surface, thus presenting a substantial area for engagement by the wrenching means el to substantially prevent distort-ion of the ends until the metal thereof is sheared.

An important feature of the present invention is that the plug insert or actuating member is formed from .a metal blank which is only 'slightly larger than the nished part, with resultan-t lowerV cost and weight than comparable prior art structures. Y

The actual welding of the actuating member within th plug body is illustrated in FGURE 2. Here the weld 28, resulting from the projections 15 to the base 1 of the plug is shown. This welding, -due to the provision of the current localizing projections, is very quickly and simply accomplished.

The completed actuating member is merely dropped Iinto the hollow head of the plug body where, due to its size and formation, it necessarily adopts a proper position. A welding electrode is then introduced into the plug head to seat on the actuating member and overlie the localizing positions. The bottom 1 of the plug body is in contact It is merely necessary then to apply sufcient pressure between the opposed electrodes to hold the actuating member and plug body together while, at the same time, passing a welding current therethrough. In this marinera quick eiiective joint is made. Y

It is to be noted that in the event the sealing of the plug in position in an opening is to be accompiished by lea-d `and wire seal, no special perforation of any portion of the plug is necessary. All one needs to do is to pass the wire under through the loop SS. In accordance with the presentinvention, the freedom lfrom any holes in the protuberances 60 and 62 leaves their basic strength unimpaired. Furthermore the open ends of the protuberances `and @allow free drainage of chemical prating solutions leaving the parts clean and properiy plated so that later corrosion is inhibited.

Though in the foregoing description and in the ac-V companying drawing a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that the article and method, so disclosed, are presented for illustrative and not limiting purposes.

Having disclosed the invention, what is claimed as new, and desire to secure Letters Patent for, is:

In a closure plug including a base, an upstanding side wall therearound, and an actuating member including a center planar base portion and upwardly extending protuberances adjacent the base portion, the improvement comprising: .the center planar Vbase portion having outer edges; a curvilinear bend portion being adjacent the outer edges; the protuberances including a generally curvilinear vertical wall portion interconnected to the curvilinear bend portion; and a partial dome portion being interconnected to said wall portion; said wall portion and dome portion forming a continuous free edge juxtaposing the innerV surface of the side wall of the closure plug.

FOREGN PATENTS 721,061 Y 12/54 Great Britain.

THERoN E. CoNDoN, Primm Examiner. EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

